The Hidden Palace by Helene Wecker

[anarresa]

The Hidden Palace
by Helene Wecker
4 stars

I tend to forget details of books quickly, but this really did get published years after the initial novel. As we re-meet every character we are reminded of their backstory as it begins to expand and the character are changing as the years go by so while it's necessary to have read the first book, it could be years ago.

Chava and Ahmad's relationship is unique: part friends, part lovers, mostly loneliness, complete opposites. There is no basis for it and few people to talk with about it. Chava eventually reunites with Anna and her now growing son, Toby, but their relationship is always strained. Ahmad's business with Arbeely grows, but so does his restlessness. Sophia is traveling the Middle East, searching for cures or at least heat to keep her comfortable. A few new characters enter their lives: Sophia meets a Jinniyeh immune to iron and banished for it while a conservative rabbi and single father to Kreindel receives the texts to create a golem and puts them to practice.

Covering decades in a moderately long book (480 pages: quite long for fiction, not too bad for fantasy) means the characters have plenty of time to develop. That character development is essentially all that happens. There is virtually no action, just a few significant events. I read the book quite slowly, especially because there were structural points where it was easy to put the book down, but I really enjoyed digging deeper into the characters.

[Barbara M]

When I picked this up, like you, I was concerned that it had been a long time between books in the series - had I forgotten too much? I was pleasantly surprised that it all fit right into place and I enjoyed it very much.

[Olivermagnus]

It's encouraging to hear that there is plenty of information to help understand the characters in the previous book. Initially, I wanted to read this but felt like I needed to reread the Golem and the Jinni but just couldn't seem to find the time.